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05
May 2023
Last Updated: 05/05/2023
As it happened: Councillors vote to SUPPORT Harrogate Station Gateway scheme
Councillors met today to decide whether the controversial Harrogate Station Gateway scheme should go ahead.
The Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee decided to back the £11.2 million project - but with conditions.
Here's what happened.
1.15pm - Meeting ends
The area constituency committee meeting has ended.
Thanks for following our coverage throughout the morning.
1.06pm - Committee votes to welcome Station Gateway investment with conditions
Cllr Peter Lacey, Liberal Democrat, has tabled a motion to welcome the investment in the scheme with conditions, including that concerns of residents are listened to as the project is developed and that the committee has a "meaningful role" in the implementation of the scheme.
The committee will also ask for a full report on the progress in the Autumn.
The committee votes to approve the motion by eight to three.
12.45pm - 'It's the wrong scheme', says committee chair
Cllr Pat Marsh, Liberal Democrat and committee chair, says she is against the scheme.
She describes the project as "the wrong scheme" for the town.
Cllr Marsh says she is not against cycling and is looking for the best project for the town. She describes the project as "piecemeal".
12.42pm - Otely Road scheme 'taken away public confidence'
Cllr Monika Slater, Liberal Democrat, tells officers that the Otley Road cycle route has "taken away the public confidence" in the council delivering infrastructure schemes.
The council decided not to proceed with the scheme after building the first section of the route.
Meanwhile, Cllr Hannah Gostlow, Liberal Democrat, says she has felt "conflicted" over the scheme.
However, she says the scheme should be used as a "starting block" for active travel.
12.30pm - 'The easiest thing to do would be to do nothing'
Cllr Michael Harrison, Conservative, says as a councillor the "easiest thing to do would be to do nothing".
He agrees with Cllr Warneken's comments and adds that making a decision to do anything in Harrogate "is difficult".
Cllr Paul Haslam, Conservative, proposes that the committee endorses the scheme.
The public gallery is steadily emptying, after more than two hours of the meeting. Fewer than half of the seats are now occupied.
Those remaining are still listening intently, and are vocally opposing anyone who speaks in favour of the scheme. However, they are far fewer in number than earlier in the morning.
12.25pm - 'If we don't do something, when are we going to do something?'
Cllr Arnold Warneken, Green Party, asks the committee if it does nothing on the gateway today, "when are we going to do something?"
He takes a swipe at Cllr Walker "for politicising this".
He adds:
"We all have an opportunity to have our say. I can see the huge benefits of this.
"It's a catalyst for making change."
12.20pm - 'It's a £11m vanity project'
Heading into debate, Cllr Matt Walker, Liberal Democrat, starts by describing the scheme as a £11m vanity project.
He says the council's strategic review as "flimsy" and delivering "nothing of benefit".
However, Cllr John Mann, Conservative, says "on balance" there is more advantages than disadvantages.
"What a surprise" shout members of the public as Cllr Mann declares his support.
12.10pm - 'No queuing to Ripley'
Cllr Chris Aldred, Liberal Democrat, asks whether any of the traffic will back up to Ripley as a result of the work.
Mr Binks says there will be no queuing to the area.
In response, someone in the public gallery shouts "It already does".
12.05pm - Impact on business
Cllr Michael Schofield asks why no consultation was done "properly" with business and why no business impact assessment was done.
Mr Roberts says a business impact assessment is "not normally carried out" on this type of scheme.
"So they don't care, then," say people in the gallery.
11.57am - First investment in Harrogate in 30 years
Mr Binks says the gateway scheme is "definitely an economic driver".
He adds its an opportunity for Harrogate to have its first significant investment in 30 years.
Mr Binks ends his presentation and takes questions from councillors.
11.55am - 'There's a lot of parking opportunity in Harrogate'
Mr Binks says Harrogate already has "a lot of parking opportunity" as he outlines the loss of 40 spaces as a result of the scheme.
He adds that Harrogate has some 7,000 parking spaces, if Asda and Waitrose are included. As a result, he says the spaces lost would amount to 0.6% of the overall figure.
11.45am - Council data 'is accurate and validated'
Mr Binks says the council's plan for Station Parade is justified as the authority commissioned a study into the road using computer modelling over traffic.
He says:
"We have got that raw data to suggest what we are doing is accurate and validated."
He adds that the drive from Kings Road to Station Parade has eight set of traffic lights which cause a delay in journey times.
Mr Binks says the flow of traffic is affected by the number of traffic signals - not the reduction from two lanes to one.
11.40am - Council acknowledges opinion is split
Council officers acknowledge that opinions on the scheme are "split down the middle".
They also acknowledge that concern has been raised about the "impact on business".
11.32am - Town centres 'are changing'
Mr Roberts says town centres "are changing" and that the status quo "is not sustainable".
In his presentation, Mr Roberts says 77% of people responded to a consultation to say that walking and cycling infrastructure needed to improve.
It's pointed out that the £11.2m must be spent on physical infrastructure. It cannot be spent on areas such as improving bus services.
"Get the pavements sorted then!" shouts one woman from the public gallery.
11.25am - 'We want to make Harrogate better'
Richard Binks, head of major projects at the council, opens his statement by saying he has 35 years experience in delivering regeneration schemes.
He adds:
"We genuinely want to make Harrogate better. It is the jewel in the crown of North Yorkshire."
He hands over to his colleague, Matt Roberts, who says the council is "seeking a balanced approach" for people to get around town.
He adds:
"This is not about stopping cars."
11.20am - 'Not seeking your blind support'
Cllr Duncan tells the committee that he is "not seeking your unconditional, blind support".
He says the executive will consider all views from the committee before the executive meeting in 25 days time.
11.17am - Gateway 'not a perfect solution'
The meeting resumes and opens with Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways, says the gateway scheme is "not a total and perfect solution".
However, he adds that it is an "opportunity to change the town centre".
He points out that there are 25 days left until the council's executive makes a decision. He adds that he wants to use those days to "ensure we have the strongest case" for the project, including consulting with the committee.
A handful of people have left the public gallery during the break. Some of the most vocal opponents remain, however, and have already been shouting their views in opposition to Cllr Duncan's statements.
11am - Committee breaks
Councillors have taken a break at the end of public questions for 10 minutes.
Mr Binks, head of major projects, is set to give a presentation when the meeting resumes.
10.55am - Harrogate Chamber of Commerce does not support gateway
Martin Mann, acting chief executive of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, tells the committee that the chamber does not support the scheme.
Mr Mann points out that construction of the scheme could go on for "two to three years" due to other works planned by utility companies.
10.47am - Gateway scheme 'not the way forward'
Frances Holroyd, who owns property in Princes Square in Harrogate, describes the scheme as "not the way forward".
She goes on to add that the scheme should be "rejected in its entirety" and calls on the council to work with local businesses.
More applause from some in the public gallery.
10.42am - Investing in gateway for visitors and reducing carbon
Jemima Parker, of Zero Carbon Harrogate, starts her statement by pointing out local authorities who have made investment in gateway schemes and have also "made a public climate emergency".
"What has that got to do with Harrogate?" people call as she refers to other towns with what she deems better infrastructure around their public transport.
Ms Parker points at the gateway scheme offers "modest carbon reductions".
10.36am - Lack of vision 'alarming'
Veronica Adams, another resident, reads from some of Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam's views.
She says that Mr Neesam found that council's often had a "clear vision" which they shared with the public. But goes onto add that he found the current authority's lack of vision "alarming".
10.30am - 'This is not Holland, it's Harrogate'
Judy D'Arcy-Thompson, a resident and part of the Stray Defence Association, says that the scheme would take away the "freedom and flexibility" of residents while also discriminating against the elderly.
She adds:
"This is not Holland, it's hilly and often very chilly Harrogate."
Meanwhile, Barry Adams, of the Harrogate Residents' Association, adds that Harrogate is "not against change", but describes the gateway scheme as "meaningless".
Mr Adams goes on to add that the scheme "will not solve congestion in Harrogate".
10.23am - 'Wrong scheme at the wrong time'
More concern from business owners at William Woods, of Independent Harrogate, says the project is the "wrong scheme at the wrong time".
Mr Woods asks why no public meeting was called to discuss the project. The public gallery applauds again.
Mr Woods' question over whether the decision was democratic let to calls of "well done, well said" from the public gallery.
He adds:
"If you really care about Harrogate, you must reject this scheme."
10.20am - Changes could be seen as "unnecessary" in the future
Andrew Brown, of Harrogate Civic Society, says the move to change Station Parade could be seen as "unnecessary" in the future.
He said the society is concerned over potential tailbacks, the pedestrianisation of James Street and public realm changes to Station Square.
Members of the public say "yeah!" and applaud when the civic society raises concerns about the impact on traffic.
10.15am - Concern over deliveries to Station Parade businesses
Sue Savill, of Party Fever on Station Parade, says that the cost to local businesses would "be devastating".
She raises concern over deliveries to businesses on Station Parade.
Her speech is met with applause from half of the public gallery.
Richard Binks, head of major projects at the council, said he "empathised" with Ms Savill over her concerns. He added that he was happy to take the concern on board to adjust the project.
10.10am - Harrogate should 'welcome investment'
Kevin Douglas, from Harrogate District Cycle Action, starts the statements.
He says Harrogate should "welcome the investment". He adds that the scheme will help to "improve the town centre".
Mr Douglas adds:
"This will not prevent people from driving in the town centre, if they want to."
He calls on councillors to support the gateway scheme.
10am - Meeting starts
The meeting is underway and will start with questions and statements from the public.
Both Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, and Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways, are in attendance to observe proceedings.
The public gallery is packed and more chairs are being brought in as members of the public continue to arrive.
9.27am - Pedestrian projects elsewhere
The report also suggests towns and cities that have been made more pedestrian-friendly have seen an increase in visitor numbers, and a boost to local businesses.
It says:
"For example, investment to make the Piccadilly area of Stoke-on-Trent more pedestrian-friendly led to a 30% increase in footfall there, whereas footfall increased by up to 35% on streets where the pedestrian experience had been improved in Scotland.
"The introduction of a pedestrianisation scheme in Coventry also led to a 25% rise in footfall on Saturdays and the trial closure of some roads in Cheltenham in 2018 similarly had a positive effect on the number of visitors to the local high street."
9.24am - Recommended for approval
Unsurprisingly, the officer's report to the committee about the scheme recommends that it is approved.
It argues the town centre is "at risk of decline" if nothing is done to make it more appealing and fit for modern needs. It says:
"The number of retail units in Harrogate has reduced by 12% in seven years with more at risk of becoming residential properties via new powers for permitted development changes in use class.
"Of the 92 retail units directly abutting the highways within the Station Gateway site, 15 were vacant in September 2021 (16%). This can be compared with a vacancy rate of 6% across the wider town centre.
"Evidence suggests that the town centre retail sector is at risk of decline in the medium term. Consumer behaviours and expectations are evolving, and towns must diversify and advance to maintain healthy and vibrant visitor economies. The scheme is seeking to do just this. "
9.20am - Background to the scheme
The gateway scheme is financed by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund and looks set to cost £11.2 million.
It would see a bus lane and two-way cycle space introduced on Station Parade, with traffic reduced to one lane.
Cheltenham Mount would become a one-way street, while James Street would be partially pedestrianised from Princes Street eastwards.
Improvements would be made to junctions and crossings on Cheltenham Parade and Station Parade, and to the roundabout near the Odeon cinema on East Parade. There would also be work to the One Arch underpass, Station Square and the length of Station Parade to create a more welcoming environment.
Read more:
- Stray Views: Time for councillors to back Harrogate Station Gateway
- Dutch-style roundabout ditched from £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway
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